Resident Madelin Barban told the Reuters news agency that she had a narrow escape.

"My children and I were inside my home and thank God, my neighbour put my children under the bed. I was in the living room, with all the rubble on top of me. It was horrible."

Powerful thunderstorms are common in Cuba at this time of year. The day after the storms battered Playa Caimito, Cuba's capital Havana was also hit by damaging winds that were gusting up to 87 kilometres per hour.

Most storms hit the island during the rainy season, which runs from May to October. It is rare, however, for so many waterspouts to be reported at one time.